Split keyboard for PC data and music output

ABSTRACT

A split keyboard with an optional middle section of keys for controlling regular PC input to a host, to play music, and to input and play music with a multiple octave keyboard that when the middle section of keys are removed can be portable to travel. And when working on just the split keyboard inputting data to a host the operator arms are not abducted due to the perpendicular advantage or slide apart keyboard where an operators arms are perpendicular to the keyboard keys.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/940,689 filed Nov. 5, 2010, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,354,580.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to keyboards used for data andmusic data output for PC and standalone music for office and traveling.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Split keyboards are on the market from Micro Soft Corporation and AppleCorporation where the keyboard pattern is split and rotated resulting inthe users arms being abducted.

Bowen U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,502,460 and 5,644,338 shows a split keyboard forinput to a PC.

Fort U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,791 shows a split keyboard for input tp a PC.

Margolin U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,758 shows a foldable calculator keyboardwith a center section of keys.

There are many companies that make musical keyboards from eighty-eightkeys down.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one primary objective of this invention is for a splitPC keyboard for PC data input where the split PC keyboard opens andallows for a middle section of keys. With the number of middle sectionkeys plus the PC keyboard left and right sections of keys the totalnumber of keys can give multiple octaves of individual keys withsubstantially the same size and pitch. This allows a user of a morestandard type of musical keyboard to more easily transition between themore standard musical keyboard and this more portable keyboard that isseparable. It is also very important for all of the standard PC keyboardfunctions be maintained within the split keyboard so an employee canstill do their job, making the split keyboard not additive to thestandard PC keyboard but is used in place of the standard PC keyboard.

It is a further objective of this invention for the middle section ofkeys to be removable from between the left and right sides of keys toallow the left and right sides of keys to close together and still beused as a standard PC keyboard.

It is a further objective of this invention to be portable and giveenough keys to be useful in an office environment to convert a users PCkeyboard to music input and relax or while traveling in a hotel roomcomposing music via programs like Music Studio by Sony with a keyboardsmall enough to fit in normal carry on luggage.

It is a further objective of this invention to reduce the amount of armand elbow lift away from the body, in human kinetics it is calledabduction when the split keyboard is being used in the split positionfor PC input do to the perpendicular advantage or slide apart keyboardwhere an operators arms are perpendicular to the keyboard and notabducted.

It is a further objective of this invention to have music control keysfor selecting different instruments of sound output types, volume, andprogrammable keys.

It is a further objective of this invention to be the keyboard within aportable computer that splits to accept the middle section of keys.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, aspects and advantages will be betterunderstood from the following detailed description of the invention withreference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a split keyboard with a removable middlesection of keys in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1 showing all keys of the left and righthand, and middle section of keys are planar in accordance with theteachings of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the split keyboard with the middle section ofkey removed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of FIG. 3 with the middle section of keys removedin accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the split keyboard with the middle section ofkeys removed and the left and right side of the split keyboard closedtogether for ten finger typing in accordance with the teachings of thisinvention;

FIG. 5A shows the irregular split of where keys can be separated betweenthe left and right side of the keyboard in accordance with the teachingsof this invention;

FIG. 5B shows a variation of the irregular split of where keys can beseparated between the left and right side of the keyboard in accordancewith the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view of FIG. 5 showing the keys are planar when theleft and right side of the keyboard are together in accordance with theteachings of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a middle section of keys that inserts betweenthe left and right sides of the split keyboard in accordance with theteachings of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a more conformal middle section of keys thatinserts and covers from front to rear the space between the left andright side of the split keyboard in accordance with the teachings ofthis invention;

FIG. 9 is a view of FIG. 4 showing the direction of inserting the middlesection of keys in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 10 is a front view of a split keyboard where the middle section ofkeys are stored within a keyboard and shows a middle section of keys inthe operable position and the keys are planar in accordance with theteachings of this invention;

FIG. 11 shows a middle section of keys in the cut away section when amiddle section of keys are stored within a keyboard in accordance withthe teachings of this invention;

FIG. 12 is a view of a split keyboard with a middle section of keysshown in the cut away view are stored and the left and right sidekeyboards are closed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 13 shows an end view of a split keyboard with a middle section ofkeys that rotates into between a left and right side section of keys inan operable position in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 14 shows a view of FIG. 13 with the rotating middle section of keysin a partial rotation between an operable position and a stored positionwith feet positioning the keyboard angle in a positive angle to a userin accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 15 shows a view of FIG. 13 with the rotating middle section of keysin the stored position with feet positioning the keyboard angle in anegative angle to a user in accordance with the teachings of thisinvention;

FIG. 16 shows a front view of a split keyboard for a portable computerthat rotates from an closed position to an open position and when closedis within the portable computer in accordance with the teachings of thisinvention;

FIG. 17 shows a another front view of FIG. 16 with the split keyboardsin different points through the rotating process with the middle sectionof keys shown in cutaway in the stored position in accordance with theteachings of this invention;

FIG. 18 shows a plan view of a normal notebook type of keyboard inaccordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 19 shows a plan view of a split keyboard with the same overall sizeas the keyboard in FIG. 18 but with the keys being reduced in size toallow rotating links of FIG. 17 within the same size notebook computerin accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 20 is a plan view of a split keyboard showing a key spanning twopositions to better feel like a regular piano keyboard to a user inaccordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 21 shows a key that spans more than one position in accordance withthe teachings of this invention;

FIG. 22 shows a plan view of a split keyboard with number pad anddirectional keys in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 23 shows a plan view of a reduce size split keyboard with minimalkeys in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 24 shows an electronic circuit that operates the split keyboardright section of keys in accordance with the teachings of thisinvention;

FIG. 25 shows a plan view of the split keyboard with a middle section ofkeys with a full compliment of keys in accordance with the teachings ofthis invention;

FIG. 26 shows a plan view of the split keyboard with a display betweenthe keyboard sides in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 27 shows a plan view of the split keyboard with free standingkeyboard sides with a middle section of keys with alignment pins betweenthe keyboard sides in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 28 shows a front view of FIG. 27 with free standing keyboard sideswith a middle section of keys with alignment pins between the keyboardsides in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 29 shows an electronic circuit that operates the split keyboardmiddle section of keys in accordance with the teachings of thisinvention;

FIG. 30 shows an electronic circuit that operates the split keyboardleft section of keys in accordance with the teachings of this invention;and

FIG. 31 shows a plan view of the split keyboard with rectangular pitchkey pattern with free standing keyboard sides with a middle section ofkeys with alignment pins between the keyboard sides in accordance withthe teachings of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows keyboard 08 with the leftside keyboard 02 and the right side keyboard 06 separated and receivingmiddle section keyboard 04 in a music playing configuration. While it isvery suitable to ten finger type on a PC keyboard or also know as touchtyping, it should also be appreciated that the keyboard must also besuitable for ten finger cords. The size and location of middle keyboardsection 04 must be of a size to maintain the lateral pitch in both thevertical and horizontal directions of the three keyboard sections,whereas if left keyboard section 02 and right keyboard section 06 wherespaced wider than necessary middle keyboard section 04 would have aspace at the ends of middle keyboard section 04 thus making the play ofmusic more prone to mistakes and failure to musicians. Thus it ispertinent for the play of music to have a contiguous key to key lateralpitch, although where a cord starts is a function of preference of theuser and application in as much as the first key in an octave on thekeyboard may start with the A note, or it could start with the C note,but once started the contiguous octave must continue. The middle sectionof keys is to add additional keys for controlling function of thekeyboard 08, controlling host PC function and the play of music. The keyto key pitch over the separation edges of the keyboards is veryimportant for maintaining ease of play or typing. The distance from thekey centerline to a mating edge dimensionally is less than half thepitch of the key measured from the centerline of the key to outer edgeof the keyboard housing at the mating edge whether it is between theleft side keyboard and the middle section, or between the right sidekeyboard and the middle section.

The contiguous plurality of shown keys with continuous repeating octavesallows music to be played in a more normal feel to a musician in orderto play music as on a piano making the transition easier. As shown thereare four cords of keys, but depending on different applications therecould be more or less octaves of keys thus varying the length of thekeyboard. Mu key 10 can be used to select between PC output and musicoutput, but those skilled in the art can realize that this could also beselected by a mouse. Left music key 18, middle music key 14 and rightmusic key 12 show the music octaves that could be printed on the key fora learning keyboard or as with other keyboards not printed because theuser knows what keys are in an octave and where and how the keys areplaced within a keyboard. A symbol is placed on sharp key 16 in sharprow 17 and is repeated in the position where sharp keys areappropriately placed in relation to the keys. Music control row 03 withkeys like an octave key so as a musician needs more octaves can selecthigher or lower octaves effectively making the keyboard more than a fouroctave as shown, or output keys like which instrument sound the keyboardwill produce. Music note row 20 is the contiguous row of keys atsubstantially the same lateral pitch but depending on the applicationthe contiguous lateral key pitch could be in row 21 nearest to theoperator also. Keys can output the velocity codes showing how hard thekey was struck and output those to a host, then if held down longer andmore finger pressure is applied will output codes representative ofkeyboard key after pressure. And if while holding down the key andmoving the key laterally with output codes representative of vibrato tothe host computer. All three of these functions velocity, after pressureand vibrato are incorporated in each single position key without anyother control keys necessary. When keyboard 08 is in PC keyboard modebiasing the key to the left, right, up or down can move the cursor likethe arrow keys for quickly going back and correcting a mistake or othernecessary functions of the arrow keys, but those skilled in the art canappreciate there are many other uses for side wards or lateral functionsof the keys. Speaker 19 is for outputting the musical sound generated byone or more of keyboard 08 sections when in music mode. The musicalprograms on the market the PC would normally be used for music soundsand functions.

When playing music fingers are not all the same length so music keys inkey row 20 and key row 21 nearest the operator can output the same keynote allowing right hand 15, shown in phantom, with little finger 13 andthumb 05 to contact keys in the first row and middle finger 09 contactthe keys in the second row leaving ring finger 11 and index finger 07 totouch the keys in the top of the first row and the bottom of the secondrow limiting the amount of unnatural arch needed in fingers thereforemaking the feel more like a normal music keyboard with long keys. FIG. 1also showing left hand 22 in phantom spanning left side keyboard 02 andmiddle section keyboard 04 allowing contiguous play of the octaves onthe keyboard.

Keyboard left side 02 and keyboard right side 06 can be used by anoperator in any position for PC input from being closed to an openposition depending on the amount of separation that best ergonomicallyreduces physical stress in the operator arms, shoulders and body ashuman kinetics dictates, as in one case arm abduction keeping the elbowclose to an operator side giving the split keyboard the perpendicularadvantage where the arm is better positioned when perpendicular to thekeyboard and the elbow is not abducted.

FIG. 2 shows left side keyboard 24, middle section keyboard 26 and rightside keyboard 28 being held in the same plane by lower housing 29 whenmiddle keyboard section 26 is inserted. Key 30 can be flat as shown ordished or even contoured while still being coplanar with the other keys.

FIG. 3 shows keyboard 34 with left side keyboard 30 separated from rightside keyboard 33 in an open position aligned by lower housing 46 in a PCinput configuration. Document holder 31 can be opened to position adocument for reference typing and when not in use folded away indocument holder recess 32 when not in use or when keyboard 34 is in aclosed position. Number key 35 and QWERTY keys 38 show keys associatedwith ten finger or touch PC keyboard typing. Programmable keys 39 can beprogrammed by keyboard 34 or the host with a specific sequence tofurther enhance function of keyboard 34 for a user. Space key 36 isshown singular but with multiple space keys as shown any of which can betouched to get a space key input, but when the note key row 20 of FIG. 1are only in row 20 then space key 36 can be wider more like a normalsplit PC keyboard. Space key 36 is also double marked to show itsposition in an octave scale for playing music with only two octavesshown, but the marking could be left off because only a beginner wouldneed to know where a key is in octave position. In PC keyboard inputmode with the keyboards halves separated abduction is lessened. Touchpad 37 can be placed on keyboard 34 when an external mouse is notavailable by user preference. Cable with female connection 58 is shownconnected to cable with male connection 57 to connect left hand sidekeyboard 30 and right hand side keyboard 33 for inner keyboard 34communications, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the cablingcould be within the keyboard. But it is advantageous to have externalconnections when the middle section of keys 202 of FIG. 20 are installedor removed by an operator with no tools or guide book, and are alsoadvantageous for ease of shielding the interconnection wires.

FIG. 4 is a front view of keyboard 34 in FIG. 3 showing left sidekeyboard 40 and right side keyboard 43 with document holder 42 locatedin lower housing 46 in an open position and the keys being coplanar toeach keyboard side.

This invention is to be used in an office environment inputting PC dataand the person takes a break and wants to relax the person inserts themiddle section of keys and can play music and be discrete using earphones. When the person is traveling and wants a portable compactkeyboard to input PC data or play and compose music on without bringingalong a full size musical keyboard having two keyboards in one is a veryadvantageous feature.

FIG. 5 shows keyboard 50 in a closed position with left side keyboard 52and right side keyboard 54 closed together for use in a small arealocation or to be packed in luggage, and can be still used for playingmusic with the keys in row 56 with the same lateral key to key pitch andcontiguous octave of the keys nearest to the separation point. Dependingon the number of keys in row 56 the key associated with the octave mayhave to be remapped when keyboard 50 is closed or separated to maintainthe contiguous octave note position. Cable with female connection 58 isshown connected to cable with male connection 57 to connect left handside keyboard 52 and right hand side keyboard 54 for inner keyboard 50communications.

FIG. 5A shows the irregular split or stagger line 69 from “Point A” to“Point B” resultant of qwerty keyboard design at the mating edges of theleft side 53 and right side 55 of the split keyboard with key six 65 onleft side 53. The vertical lateral pitch 61 and the horizontal lateralpitch 63 can be of any dimension for different applications, somekeyboards have a 0.687 inch (17.5 mm) lateral pitch, some have a 0.750inch (19 mm) lateral pitch but smaller and larger are used in keyboards.Some stagger between keys of different lines or rows vary from be fiftypresent to other presents depending on application.

FIG. 5B shows the irregular split or stagger line 68 from “Point C” to“Point D” at the mating edges of the left side 57 and right side 59 ofthe split keyboard with key six 64 on right side 59. The placement ofkey six is sometimes because of teachings that dictate placement, andsome are for manufacturing or design preference. The unique stagger ofsplit keyboard in the mating area between left keyboard 57 and rightkeyboard 59 is very advantageous to the interlocking and alignment andby making the lateral pitch in both horizontal and vertical directionsmatch precisely can alleviate the need for aligning pins or the like.The key to key pitch is very important for maintaining ease of play ortyping and dimensionally is less than half the pitch of the key measuredfrom the centerline of the key to outer edge of the keyboard housing atthe mating edges.

FIG. 6 shows and front view of keyboard 50 of FIG. 5 showing keys 66 arecoplanar when keyboard 50 is in a closed position.

FIG. 7 shows middle keyboard section 70 with a smaller housing for amore compact traveling size, with sharp keys 72 appropriately placed inrelation to note keys 74. Middle keyboard section 70 is advantageous foradding keys that are not in the standard qwerty pattern of PC keys forhost control and music input to the PC or other musical devices.

FIG. 8 shows middle keyboard section 80 that is full width for betterinterlocking and alignment of the keyboard sides when installed betweenkeyboard sides and for a smoother physical transition from the left andright keyboard side for those skilled in the art it should beappreciated that other recesses and features in the middle keyboardsection 80 could be implemented for pencils or other items for useradvantages. Cable with female connection 207 is shown with cable withmale connection 205 to connect left hand side keyboard 200 and righthand side keyboard 204 for inner keyboard communications when middlesection 202 is inserted between. Right interlock 82 having threeinternal sides to align with right keyboard side, and left interlock 84having three external interlocking sides to align with left keyboardside.

FIG. 9 shows direction to insert middle keyboard section 92 wheninserted and removed directional arrow 94 between left side keyboard 90and right side keyboard 96. The insertion can be a simple means likeinserting middle keyboard section 92 with an operators hand, or in aother applications using an automated insertion and removal mechanism.Middle keyboard section 92 can be completely separable from keyboard 91as shown or attached as shown in an alternate means in FIG. 14. Righthand keyboard positioner 98 integral to right side keyboard 96 beingstopped when opening right side keyboard 96 to an open position by rightinner wall limiting stop 97 of lower housing 99, and left hand keyboardpositioner 95 integral to left side keyboard 90 being stopped whenopening left side keyboard 90 to an open position by left inner walllimiting stop 93 of lower housing 99 and is very important to spacingkeyboard sides to an exact distance to allow middle keyboard 92 to beinserted and maintain a contiguous key to key pitch so an operatorsfingers will not feel a difference with using keyboard 91 to not feel aseparation between keyboard middle and sides so to feel a contiguous keyto key pitch or spacing. One has to appreciate an operator playing apiano and having the keys separating while playing, this appreciation isthe reason for the maintained key to key pitch. It can also beadvantageous to have slight pressure on the positioner from the limitingstop to maintain a tight key to key separation. When positioning leftside keyboard 90 and right side keyboard 96 in a closed position from anopen position left side ramp 76 and right side ramp 78 allow a smoothtransition over lower housing 99.

For keyboard 91 to be a split keyboard and operate in an office andmusical environment middle keyboard section 92 must be removable so leftkeyboard side 90 and right keyboard side 96 can close and operate withthe same key to key pitch as a normal PC qwerty keyboard, althoughoperating with the keyboard sides apart is advantageous for less stresson the operator the keyboard will be used closed.

FIG. 10 is a front view of split keyboard 100 where the middle sectionof keys 104 are stored within keyboard 100 and shows a middle section ofkeys 104 in the operable position and the keys are coplanar to left sidekeyboard 102 and right side keyboard 106. Lower housing 108 can containeither a portable computer or just the keyboard housing.

FIG. 11 shows middle section of keys 104 in a cutaway section whenmiddle section of keys 104 are stored within keyboard 100. Directionalarrow 110 shows the movement from an operable position to a storedposition within a portable computer or keyboard housing 108.

FIG. 12 shows split keyboard 100 with middle section of keys 104 shownin the cutaway view are stored and left side keyboard 102 and right sidekeyboard 106 are closed.

FIG. 13 shows an end view of split keyboard 130 with middle section ofkeys 134 in a cutaway view that has rotated to between left sidekeyboard and right side keyboard making up split keyboard 130 into anoperable position. With front foot 132 and rear foot 136 positioningsplit keyboard 130 in an operating position parallel to desk surface140.

FIG. 14 shows a view of FIG. 13 with rotating middle section of keys 134in a partial rotation between an operable position of FIG. 13 and astored position of FIG. 15. With front foot 132 and rear foot 136positioning split keyboard 130 in an operating position at a positiveangle to desk surface 140.

FIG. 15 shows a view of FIG. 13 with rotating middle section of keys 134in the stored position shown in cutaway within split keyboard 130. Withfront foot 132 and rear foot 136 positioning split keyboard 130 in anoperating position at a negative angle to a desk surface 140. Positiveand negative angles of slope are being studied to reduce stress inwrists et al joints and these foot positions are being offered to makean operator more comfortable. Those skilled in the art can appreciatethey are many feet adjusting mechanisms to raise and lower feet toadjust the angle of operation and this means is just one but is beingshown for positive and negative slope selection.

Tooling cost are a large part of any new production product and canoften be a go for the project or a no go for a project so any proposalsto reduce the tooling cost are very advantageous to companies startingnew products. This invention is advantageous because the split keyboarddepending on the switch technology used, meaning thin switch or thickswitch, contact switch, contactless switch, or optical switch can bemade thin enough for thin standalone keyboards or to fit within existingportable computers to replace the existing keyboard, and cost effectiveenough for toy keyboards.

FIG. 16 shows a front view of split keyboard 160 for a portable computerthat rotates from a closed position to an open or operable position,rotating better shown in FIG. 17, and when closed is within the portablecomputer overall frame size. No other split keyboard has the opening andclosing adaptable to fitting within a portable computer without majordesign changes to the portable computer and no major new toolingcharges. Being within the portable computer means no new tooling costfor the portable computer housing or internal computer parts. With thisconfiguration of split keyboard to be placed where the old keyboard wasmeans that all is needed is to reduce the key pitch in both the X and Zaxis so rotating links 162 have enough room to operate when opening andclosing. This is very advantageous because all that is needed is to makea kit of parts with split left side keyboard 164 and split right sidekeyboard 166, then remove the old keyboard that came with the portablecomputer and assembly in the split keyboard kit. Then use the middlesection of keyboard 92 of FIG. 9 and have at least a four octave musicalkeyboard and still remain all of the functionality of the portablekeyboard when the split keyboard is in the closed position so normal PCkeyboarding can be done.

FIG. 17 shows split keyboard 170 which has middle section of keys 172stored within. Rotating positioners 178 and directional arrows 179 showsthe rotating positions of left side keyboard 176 and right side keyboard174 through the opening and closing rotation. Adjustable keyboard sidetension positioner retainers 173 and adjustable housing side tensionpositioner retainer 174 can be adjusted to limit the free movement ofleft side keyboard 176 and right side keyboard 174 so the keyboard canbe operated any where through the rotation for open to closed positions.Positioner 178 is advantageous to space left side keyboard 176 and rightside keyboard 174 when in the open position so that the contiguous keyto key pitch is maintained when middle section of keys 172 are insertedbetween left and right keyboard sides, and act as a stop because of theopening radius.

FIG. 18 shows a plan view of a normal notebook type of keyboard 180 witha dimension A showing the size of the normal size of the keyboard. FIG.19 shows the same dimension A at the same size with a dimension Bshowing the slight reduction in keyboard 192 to allow for rotating links178 of FIG. 17 to operate from an open and closed position.

FIG. 20 shows left keyboard side 200 with double wide keyboard key 208longer in the Y direction and is separated from right keyboard side 164separated by middle keyboard section 202 with double wide key 206.Having double wide key 206 is advantageous to give the keyboard the feelof a piano that has long keys and enabling play to be more natural andalso ten finger cords. In this configuration middle keyboard section 202could be used in a more dedicated musical keyboard. FIG. 21 with widekeyboard key 210 as also show in FIG. 21 could span more than two keysvertically or the Y direction and could be turned horizontal to alsospan more than two keys in the X direction in different applicationswhere a wider key would be advantageous and those skilled in the artcould appreciate where a wider key can be advantageous to increase thefunctionality of the keyboard.

FIG. 22 shows split keyboard 220 with number pad 222 and directionalkeys 224 to increase the usability and offer more function to officeenvironments.

FIG. 23 shows a reduce size split keyboard 230 with less rows and keys.By reducing the number of keys needed to fit a particular application inthe keyboard the keyboard could only have five or six rows, or even lessand those skilled in the art can appreciate that the pitch of keys ineither the vertical or horizontal direction could also be reduced formaybe users with small hands like children making the keyboard evensmaller, lighter and more compact.

FIG. 24 is a schematic of the right side of the split keyboard showingthe controlling microprocessor 240 with backlight control 242controlling the brightness of the spilt keyboard and functions like capslock, scroll lock, and number lock keys to be shown on or off, keymatrix control 244 scans key positions to detect which key is pressed,and other shown named circuit functions for outputting data to a hostand controlling the split keyboard. Right side battery 246 can be usedfor powering the keyboard when no physical connection is used to thehost and the keyboard is communication wirelessly. Right sideinterconnection 248 is used to connect with the middle and leftkeyboard. The wireless connection can be between keyboard sections andor with the host computer, when right side interconnection 248 is not beused.

FIG. 25 shows left side keyboard 254 of split keyboard 252 with rightside keyboard 258 with middle section of keys 256 there between withkeys contiguous in all rows which could be used in applicationsrequiring more keys and advantageous for a musical organ application.Interconnection cable 253 caries signal from left keyboard side 254 toright keyboard side 258, the actual connection can be either bepluggable or hard wired, Middle interconnection cable 255 connects rightside keyboard 258 to middle section of keys 256 and can either bepluggable or hard wired. Those skilled in the can appreciate dependingon a designers choice of which keyboard section is controlling keyboard252 the wiring can be connected differently.

FIG. 26 shows split keyboard 262 with left side keys 264 and right sidekeys 266 being separated by housing 268 containing display with touchscreen 260 which is advantageous for word processing and otherapplications need data input.

FIG. 27 shows split keyboard 276 with free standing left side keyboard270 and free standing right side keyboard 274 with no alignment housingthere between. Center section of keys 272 is aligned with left sidekeyboard 270 using left side alignment snap pins 278 and with right sidekeyboard 274 using right side alignment snap pins 279. Using snap pins278 and 279 to align center section of keys 272 holds left side keyboard270 and right side keyboard 274 in position to have a contiguous key tokey pitch for ease of transitioning between playing a piano and splitkeyboard 276 to maintain key position for playing music or applicationsneeding a keyboard with more keys. It should be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that the design of the snap feature to hold thekeyboards aligned and together could be any number of retainers or otherfeatures for the same purpose. The unique stagger of keyboard 276 in themating area between left keyboard 270 and right keyboard 274 is veryadvantageous to the alignment and by making the lateral pitch in bothhorizontal and vertical directions match precisely can alleviate theneed for aligning pins 278 and 279 or the like.

FIG. 28 shows a front view of FIG. 27 with free standing left keyboardside 280 and right side free standing keyboard 284 with the centersection 282 there between all in the same plane being aligned by leftsnap alignment pin 286 when the keyboard sides are snapped together.

FIG. 29 is a schematic of the middle section of the split keyboardshowing the controlling microprocessor 290 with backlight control 292controlling the brightness of the spilt keyboard and functions, keymatrix control 294 scans key positions to detect which key is pressed,and other shown named circuit functions for outputting data to a hostand controlling the split keyboard. Middle section battery 296 can beused for powering the keyboard when no physical connection is used tothe host and the keyboard is communication wirelessly. Middle sectioninterconnection 298 and 299 are used to connect with the right and leftkeyboards respectively. The wireless connection can be between keyboardsections and or with the host computer, when middle sectioninterconnections 298 and 299 are not used.

FIG. 30 is a schematic of the left side of the split keyboard showingthe controlling microprocessor 300 with backlight control 302controlling the brightness of the spilt keyboard and functions like capslock, scroll lock, and number lock keys to be shown on or off, keymatrix control 304 to scan key position to detect which key is pressed,and other shown named circuit functions for outputting data to a hostand controlling the split keyboard. Left side battery 306 can be usedfor powering the keyboard when no physical connection is used to thehost and the keyboard is communication wirelessly. Right sideinterconnection 308 is used to connect with the middle and rightkeyboard. The wireless connection can be between keyboard sections andor with the host computer when left side interconnection 308 is not beused.

FIG. 31 shows split keyboard 310 and rectangular pitch key pattern 319with free standing left keyboard side 312, middle keyboard section 314and right keyboard section 316. Alignment pins 311 align the keyboardsides with the keyboard middle section. Right mating edge 318 of leftkeyboard side 312 mates with left mating edge 317 of middle section 314and both are thin enough so as to allow the key to key pitch to becontiguous across the mating of the two keyboard sections, anddimensionally less than half the pitch of the key measured from thecenterline of the key to outer edge of the housing at the mating edge.The rectangular key pattern 319 is a pattern where there issubstantially no lateral stagger in the keys both in the horizontal andvertical direction and makes one of the advantages for this stile ofkeyboard for users that want a portable keyboard with a large number ofkeys to fit inside of carry on luggage or the like. Middle section ofkeys 314 being not limited to number, shape or size of keys can be usedfor a piano type keyboard in a very small transportable size. Thoseskilled in the art should appreciate that alignment pins 311 could be ofother designs to accomplish the same function.

Those skilled in the art should appreciate the four octaves that thisinvention is showing could be more octaves and the more octaves meansmore keys and there can be a need whether more or less keys to havewider keys depending on the inventions application and not deter theadvantageous spilt keyboard with a removable middle section of keys. Andwith the keyboard running under microprocessor control and differentapplications, remapping the keys to different resultant outputs andchanging the key indicia to objects or other symbols rather thanstandard QWERTY text can match other applications. Also making adedicated split keyboard for children should also be appreciated with asmall key to key pitch and the minimal set of keys would still beappreciated.

While the invention has been described in terms of a single preferredembodiment, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventioncan be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A keyboard for outputting data and music,comprising in combination: a plurality of keys forming a keyboard in akeyboard housing; said keys having a key pitch; said keys having a keypattern which includes a QWERTY staggered key pattern wherein at leastone row of keys is offset in an X direction from one or more other rowsof keys; said keyboard housing having a left mating edge with analignment means to accept a left keyboard side and when accepted havecontiguous key to key pitch over said left mating edge to said leftkeyboard; said keyboard housing having a right mating edge with saidalignment means to accept a right keyboard side and when accepted havecontiguous key to key pitch over said right mating edge to said rightkeyboard; said left mating edge is less than half said key pitch to saidkey nearest said left mating edge; said right mating edge is less thanhalf said key pitch to said key nearest said right mating edge; and amicroprocessor to scan said keys and assign a key code to key or keysbeing touched.
 2. A keyboard for outputting data and music as claimed inclaim 1, further including a left side keyboard with a plurality of leftside keys with a right side keyboard mating edge detachably received tosaid keyboard; said left side keyboard having an alignment means to saidkeyboard; said right side keyboard mating edge is less than half saidleft side key pitch to said right side key nearest said right keyboardmating edge; a left side keyboard connector to be detachable received tosaid keyboard; and a left side microprocessor to scan said keys todetect which key or keys are being touched.
 3. A keyboard for outputtingdata and music as claimed in claim 1, further including a right sidekeyboard with a plurality of right side keys with a left side keyboardmating edge detachably received to said keyboard; said right sidekeyboard having an alignment means to said keyboard; said left sidekeyboard mating edge is less than half said left side key pitch to saidleft side key nearest said left keyboard mating edge; a right sidekeyboard connector to be detachable received to said keyboard; and aright side microprocessor to scan said keys to detect which key or keysare being touched.
 4. A keyboard for outputting data and music asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said alignment means is a base.
 5. Akeyboard for outputting data and music as claimed in claim 1, furtherincluding means for receiving said key codes and generating musicindicative of said key codes.
 6. A keyboard for outputting data andmusic as claimed in claim 1, further including said microprocessoroutput PC and music data to a host.
 7. A keyboard for outputting dataand music as claimed in claim 2, whereas key outputs from said left sidekeyboard are communicated to said keyboard to output music.
 8. Akeyboard for outputting data and music as claimed in claim 3, whereaskey outputs from said right side keyboard are communicated to saidkeyboard to output music.
 9. A keyboard for outputting data and music asclaimed in claim 1, whereas said keyboard has at least one row of keys;all keys in said at least one row of keys has a first row with the samesaid key to key lateral pitch.
 10. A keyboard for outputting data andmusic as claimed in claim 9, whereas all keys in said at least one rowof keys has a second row with the same said key to key lateral pitch.